What is Stevia? Comprised of around 240 species of herbs in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), Stevia can be found growing wild in South America and southwestern regions of North America. It's believed to have first been discovered by Spanish scientist Petrus Jacobus Stevus (Pedro Jaime Esteve) , whose surname was used as the basis for the Latin Stevia. Read More
	Natural Alternatives to Sugar You know the saying, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down." And, unfortunately it usually helps more food and drinks go down too. One could argue that our innate love for sweetness combined with an abundance of cheap concentrated sugary food sources is responsible for our current obesity epidemic. Read More

Cheesy Artichoke Dip

Ingredients 1/8 tsp. NOW Stevia ¼ cup Asiago cheese ¾ cup sour cream or yogurt 398 ml or 14 oz. jar of chopped artichoke hearts ½ cup chopped sun dried tomatoes 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 Tbsp. fresh garlic, minced ¼ tsp. chili spice ¼ tsp. pepper ¼ dry mustard

Directions:
Place chopped sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and add enough boiling water to cover. Let stand until cool. Reserving the juice, chop artichoke hearts into small pieces. Add sun-dried tomatoes with the water and artichoke with the reserved juice to all other ingredients; mix well. Bake in a low oven-proof dish for 15- 20 minutes at 350 degrees

Variation: Vegetarian Sandwich Spread

Prepare as above but do not add the reserved water and juice in to the mix. The resulting consistency is perfect for spreading on your favorite bread.

Apple Nut Crisp

Ingredients: 5 cups sliced apples ¼ to ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans ¼ cup unsweetened coconut meal ½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon Stevia Extract Powder ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons rolled oats, lightly chopped in a blender. 6 tablespoons vegetable oil ¼ cup natural apple juice A dash of nutmeg ½ cup barley flour

Apples need not be peeled if they are organic. In a lightly oiled 8 x 8 inch baking dish place apples, then sprinkle with juice nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Stir. In a bowl mix together flour, stevia, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and oats. Stir in oil, walnuts, and coconut meal. Spoon over apple mixture. Bake at 350 degrees in a preheated oven for 50 minutes or until apples are tender, To prevent over-browning, loosely cover with aluminum foil the last 15 minutes.

Serve warm or chilled. For special events top with Lemon Ice Cream.

Variation: Substitute whole wheat pastry flour for barley flour.

Organic Lemonade

Ingredients: 1/2 cup organic lemon juice 1 tsp. organic stevia powder 3 3/4 cup of water